Kate McCann says the family are bracing themselves for the upcoming 10th anniversary of Madeleine's disappearance in Portugal.

Madeleine McCann’s mother has described the upcoming 10th anniversary of her daughter’s disappearance as a “horrible marker of time, stolen time”.

Madeleine disappeared on May 3, 2007 during a family holiday in Praia da Luz in Portugal.

The three-year-old has not been seen since she vanished from the apartment they were staying in, but her parents have never given up hope of finding her.

In a post on the Official Find Madeleine Campaign Facebook page, Kate McCann wrote: "We are bracing ourselves for the next couple of weeks.

"It's likely to be stressful and painful and more so given the rehashing of old 'stories', misinformation, half-truths and downright lies which will be doing the rounds in the newspapers, social media and 'special edition' TV programmes."

She said "when Madeleine first disappeared I couldn't even begin to consider anything in terms of years".

"Most days are similar to the rest - another day. May 3rd 2017 - another day. But ten years - a horrible marker of time, stolen time."

She went on: "I truly hope that those reporting on the 'story' over the next couple of weeks will have a conscience.

"Even if little consideration for Gerry and me is shown, they will at least bear in mind the effect such unfounded and unwarranted negativity could have on our other children - and of course Madeleine."

The post is signed by both parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, insisting "there will always be hope".

Madeleine's disappearance sparked one of the most high-profile police investigations of recent times.

Scotland Yard has been assisting with the inquiry since 2011.

Last month the Home Office confirmed it had granted officers £85,000 to carry on with the probe for a further six months.